Tim,
You have done some beautiful work on that Monte. That paint is great for it being the original paint other than the fenders. You say it has never seen snow. Where did the car come from originally that this would be possible, being that you are in Ontario and did not get the car till 1986. How many miles are on the car?
Just a note, one of our members, Dan Janes, has developed and has applied for a patent on a conversion slap shifter plate for that type of shifter, If you don't have something like that you should check with him. Dan Janes screen name is "overdrive". Do you have a projected completion date on the car?
rob